MY 1985 380SE NEEDS TO BE TOWED BECAUSE OF ENGINE DAMAGE (CAM TENSIONERS, ROCKER ASSY,ETC ) REMOVAL OF THE DRIVELINE "APPEARS" TO BE BEYOND MY SCOPE. WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO TOW IT "BACKWARDS" ON A TOW DOLLY. THAT WOULD BE "EASIER" FOR ME THAN BORROWING/BUYING/LEASING A TRAILER. I KNOW IT'S A HEAVY BEAST AND I DON'T WANT TO BE "WAGGING" IT DOWN THE FREEWAY. HOWEVER, I'VE HEARD IT CAN BE AND HAS BEEN DONE. THIS WOULD BE A LONG DRIVE, AND NOT JUST AROUND THE BLOCK. OPINIONS PLEASE.... THANK YOU.

I think the car is too big (wide) and too heavy for a tow dolly. In fact, when I towed the 560 home from the salvage yard, U-haul would not even rent a dolly to haul it. I had to rent an auto transport (flat bed) AND claim it was an SEC not an SEL. The SE might make the weight limit for the transport though. Cost was something around $65 for the day.

On the other hand, you could enlist the services of a hook or rollback and have them haul it for you.

Do not drag it off to the shop with the rear wheels on the ground, certain to damage the tranny . If you absolutely have to drag it with the rear wheels on the ground, all you have to do is remove the 6 19mm bolts that hold the rear flex disk to the differential, that will allow the rear wheels to freewheel without turning the tranny.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.